Grand Chief Lawrence Martin Announces Proposed Private Rail Partnership

Lawrence Martin, Grand Chief of Mushkegowuk Territorial Council this afternoon anounced that he has received a proposal from TGR Rail, a private southern Ontario railway company, to enter a partnership  to build rail lines to transport ore from the Ring of Fire east to Timmins and on to the port of Moosonee or south into southern Ontario.

Grand Chief Martin hinted that if successful this rail proposal will benefit Northeastern Ontario including Timmins. The consensus of those gathered at the Five Nations Energy Symposium is that rail must be an important part of the transportation system as it would be too costly to truck what is primarily rock so that chromite and other minerals can be extracted and refined.  

The longer term proposal by TGR also includes developing a partnership with Mushkegowuk Council to enter a joint bid to purchase the Ontario Northland Railroad, which today provides freight services and a truncated passenger rail service from Cochrane to Moosonee, Ontario. In 2012, then Premier Dalton McGuinty abruptly ended passenger rail service from Cochrane south to North Bay and Toronto. The passenger rail service to Moosonee is the only permanent fixed link service available to residents along the James Bay coast as there is at present no highway or road to link the James Bay communities to Cochrane and beyond. There is a winter roads program in effect that prepares and manages a road made of ice from the DeBeer' Victor Mine, Attawapiskat, Kaschechewan, Fort Albany, Moosoonee, Moose Factory and south to its terminus in Smooth Rock Falls a distance of approximately 600 km.

The Ontario government has been trying with little success to sell off its provincially-owned Ontario Northland Railway and use the revenue generated to reduce the debt burden currently being carried by the Province of Ontario.

Earlier, the Symposium heard from Suzanne Leclair, a consult to Mushkegowuk Council and Five Nations Energy describe plans that would have Five Nations Energy Inc bring electricity to the Ring of Fire. The energy would originate from Quebec Hydro. Specifics are being studied with Hydro Quebec officials to see if the proposal is feasible and what system design would be the best option.

Aboriginal and Native Affairs Minister David Zimmer, one of the key speakers at the Five Nations Energy Symposium at the Cedar Meadows Inn in Timmins Ontario announced community development grants to Moose Cree, Mocreebec, Chapleau Cree, Fort Albany.

The following communities and organizations have been approved for Economic Diversification Grants:Chapleau Cree First Nation will receive $100,000 this year to work with energy experts to develop a regional renewable energy plan. Mushkegowuk Council will receive $457,348 over three years to implement its regional business organization project, allowing them to be effective partners in resource development and other emerging sectors. MoCreebec Eeyound will receive $283,767 over three years to hire an economic development officer to broaden its economic base and identify new opportunities for growth. Fort Albany First Nation will receive $279,205 over three years to hire a youth economic development officer to create long-term plans to help young people find good jobs through community economic development and training.

Part of Ontario's Jobs and Prosperity Fund, the Aboriginal Economic Development Fund(AEDF) is providing new employment, training and business opportunities for Aboriginal people across Ontario. AEDF Economic Diversification Grants provide project funding to develop and implement economic plans. Grants also fund feasibility studies and other community projects that contribute to economic diversification. Additional projects being supported with Economic Diversification Grants will be announced in the coming week.                                                                                                                                                                          

Improving socioeconomic outcomes for Aboriginal people is part of the government's economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire. Applications for the next round of Economic Diversification Grants will be open from February 2 to March 6, 2015.

Ontario will soon announce Aboriginal financial institutions that will help deliver the AEDF Business and Community Fund across the province, improving access to financing and other supports for Aboriginal businesses.